Forgiving Others and Yourself

1 Jn.1:9

God is faithful to forgive our sins. We should be faithful in forgiving others and ourselves.

Forgiving Others

Fulfills God’s Commandment

• [1 Jn.1:9] God is faithful to forgive
• [Matt.18:21-22] 70 x 7 times!
• [Luke 17:4] 7 times a day!
• [Matt.6:12] If God forgives us AS we forgive our debtors, then do we receive the same as what we dish out to others when it concerns forgiveness?
• [Matt.6:14-15] “Forgive to be forgiven” is not a New Testament doctrine, but there is a point to make here, God does want us to show mercy to our fellow man. God does say “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” [Jas.2:8]

Affects your Fellowship with God

• Your unforgiving heart does affect your fellowship with God [Matt.18:35] the parable is for the Kingdom of Heaven, but the spiritual principle still applies.

Forgiving Yourself

                Acknowledges God’s forgiveness

• To not forgive yourself, while God has forgiven you, calls God a liar
• If God is willing to forgive your sin, you should forgive yourself and move on

                Enables you to move on and put it behind you

• [2Sam.12] David knows that the death of his child is due to his own sin. He feels the guilt.
• [2Sam.12:21-23] He did what he could and then put it behind him and moved on
• No use to God is a man laying around feeling guilty about a confessed and forgiven sin, David not only moved on but was more committed to the Lord’s work [Ps.51:13-15]
• David forgave himself, God forgave him and blessed him with another child [2Sam12:24]